Eating too much black licorice is harmful, FDA warns

I’ve never liked licorice, especially the black stuff.

Reminds me of a grandparent’s decaying hard candy dish.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is, according to Ashley May of USA Today, warning consumers not eat large amounts of black licorice.

The candy, made from a shrub usually found in Greece, Turkey and Asia, contains a compound (glycyrrhizin) that can lower a person’s potassium levels, FDA experts say. So, eating too much could cause heart problems, high blood pressure, swelling and sluggishness, an FDA advisory reports.  

Last year, the FDA heard of at least one case of black licorice causing health problems, according to the advisory. 

Especially for those 40-years-old and older, eating two ounces of black licorice a day for at least two weeks could throw off heart rhythms. 

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About Douglas Powell

A former professor of food safety and the publisher of barfblog.com, Powell is passionate about food, has five daughters, and is an OK goaltender in pickup hockey. Download Doug’s CV here. Dr. Douglas Powell editor, barfblog.com retired professor, food safety 3/289 Annerley Rd Annerley, Queensland 4103 dpowell29@gmail.com 61478222221 I am based in Brisbane, Australia, 15 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time